Frameless railcar passenger seat

ABSTRACT

A frameless rail passenger seat having support members acting as sole support of the seat cushion frame and the seat back frame and being secured to the floor of a passenger rail car. The seat back frame is mounted on a pair of rotatably mounted shafts to allow the seat back to assume two opposing seat positions. A pair of link members are operatively connected to the pair of shafts and pivotally attached to the seat cushion frame, and have cam surfaces to engage a cam follower. Pins on the link members contact link members for support of one link member in each of the two seat positions.

[0001] This application claims benefit of the filing date of provisional application, Ser. No. 60/284,985 filed Apr. 19, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates in general to passenger seats and, in particular, to a frameless railcar passenger seat.

[0004] 2. Summary of the Prior Art

[0005] Numerous designs for passenger seats have been used throughout the long history of railcars. A walkover seat is commonly used in passenger car applications because the seat position can be moved to oppositely facing directions. In previous designs, including those having a walkover seat back, the passenger seat commonly employs a seat frame to adequately support the structure. The use of seat frame in conjunction with a seat back frame and seat cushion requires a relatively heavy and expensive use of structural members, such as bars and cross members for adequate strength. Not only do such seat frames employ relatively heavy components, the installation of a seat frame in a passenger car contributes to installation time and costs. Moreover, the stresses applied to a seat frame must be absorbed by the frame structure.

[0006] In its opposing positions, known seatbacks and seat cushion frames require latches, stops, and supports to retain the seat back. None of the prior techniques for retaining and moving the seat backs have not been wholly satisfactory due to installation and maintenance costs during use. Further, known designs suffer from problems in providing optimum seat support and activation of seat back movement with a satisfactory stop function. The previous designs are also not sufficiently heavy duty to support a seat in the absence of a seat frame. Therefore, it is desirable in the prior art to provide a car seat, which is simpler and more economical in design and installation, and provides smoother and more positive seat retention and support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is, therefore, an objective of the invention to provide a frameless passenger railcar seat. It is further an objective of the invention to provide a cam assembly for supporting the seat structure and providing smooth and effective activation and retention of the seat back and cushion frame. The frameless seat of the invention employs a base support, which is attached directly to the floor of the passenger car. The design of the application eliminates the necessity of using heavy frame members to support the seat. The frameless design herein disclosed utilizes heavy-duty block and plate assemblies at each end to provide necessary structural support, whereby the railcar body is the stressed member. The design of the invention allows for efficient installation of the seat in the railcar and when installed, provides effective support of the seat with a lighter structure than in the prior art. The cam assembly of the passenger seat of the invention utilizes heavy-duty cam members, which insure positive activation of the seat back and contributes to the support and retention of seat structure in absence of the seat frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the frameless passenger seat of the invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is an end elevational view, viewed outwardly, of the cam linkage assembly of the invention;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the end walkover shafts and cam linkage assembly of the frameless passenger seat of the invention;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the frameless passenger seat of FIG. 1 with cushions removed; and

[0012]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the frameless passenger seat of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 5, there is illustrated the improved frameless passenger seat of the invention, generally designated by reference numeral 2. Although the frameless passenger seat is described herein as a seat for passenger railroad cars, it is within the scope of the invention to use the teachings of the invention in any environment in which passenger seats are employed. As is conventional, the passenger seat 2 includes a horizontal bench seat 4 and a seat back 6 as seen in FIG. 1. Although the seat back 6 is described herein as being of a walkover type allowing movement between two oppositely facing positions, it is within the scope of the invention to use the frameless design described herein in passenger seats not having a walkover capability.

[0014] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the frameless support 10 of the railcar seat for solely supporting the horizontal bench seat 4 is best shown. A plate 12 is affixed to a lower hollow block support assembly 14 having a pair of vertical end walls 16, an outer vertical wall 18 and an inward spaced wall 20 (FIG. 4). The block support assembly 14 is formed as a housing having a top horizontal wall 22 and bottom wall 24 for contacting the floor 25 of the passenger car. An angle member 26 having a lower horizontal plate or ledge 28 has a bottom surface 28 b that contacts the wall 24 in overlapping relationship. The horizontal plate or ledge 28 includes a pair of holes (not shown) to receive respective mechanical fasteners 28 a (FIG. 5), such as bolts and the like, to anchor the block assembly 14 and the angle member 26 to the floor 25 of the passenger seat car. A pair of vertical rods 34 are secured at their bottom ends 36 to the angle member 26 by welding or mechanical fasteners, and extend upward within the confines of the block assembly 14. The upward end portion 38 of the rods 34 extend upward externally of the block housing into securement to the plate 12. Although not intended to be so limited, the block assembly may be situated on an aisle side of the passenger seat 2.

[0015] The opposite side of the car seat 2 is supported on a vertical support in the form of a plate 50 having an angle member 52 secured thereto by bolts and the like and forming a bottom horizontal wall 54. The bottom wall 54 includes holes 56 to receive bolts 52 a and the like to secure the angle member 52 and the vertical plate 50 to the floor 32 of the railcar for support of the opposite side of the passenger seat 2. Although the plate 50 and angle member 52 are shown as a single member, it is within the scope of the invention to use two support members.

[0016] The seat back frame 60 is supported at each end by a pair of rotatably mounted walkover tubes 62 a and 62 b. Solid end extensions 66 a and 66 b of walkover tubes 62 a, 62 b are respectively affixed to a pair of levers 68 extending upward and abutting each other in opposed seating positions of the seat back frame 69. The abutting seat back levers 68 a,b at each opposed seat position contribute to the positive retention of the seat back frame 69 during use in both sitting positions (FIG. 2). The two pair of levers 68 a,b are interconnected to the seat back frame members by a link member 70. The link member 70 is pivotally attached to the levers 68 a,b by pins 72 and is affixed to the seat back frame 60. The opposite vertical plates 12 at each side of the passenger seat 2 are integrally formed on an inwardly projecting pair of end locking block assemblies 80 (FIGS. 3 and 4) through which the end extensions 66 a, 66 b of the walkover tubes 62 a, 62 b extend for rotation.. The locking block assemblies 80 contain a lock member 82 and torsion dissipation section 84 of end extensions 66 a, 66 b which are described in my copending non-provisional application, Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith.

[0017] An inner plate 90 is affixed by threaded bolts and the like to the block assembly 80 and receive the end extensions 66 a, 66 b through aligned holes 91. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a seat cushion frame 92 possessing a pair of hollow support frame members 94 extends side to side of the passenger seat 2 in parallel relationship to the walkover tubes 62. The frame members interconnect with end members 96 and an intermediate support member 98.

[0018] Movement of the seat back levers 68 and the end extensions 66 of the walkover tubes 62 is interconnected with the seat cushion frame 92 by heavy-duty cam assemblies 100 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, which are positioned on both sides of the seat 4. The structure and function of the heavy-duty cam assemblies 100 on each side of the passenger seat 2 are identical. The cam assemblies 100 each include a pair of linkage members 102 a,b having a curved outer concave cam surface 104. It is within the scope of the invention to use other shapes for the cam surface 104, if desired. The linkage members 102 a,b are formed in a modified triangular shape having a hollow center area 106 surrounded by integral wall portions. The wall portions have a flat wall portion 108, a generally flat wall section 110 having a depressed section 110 a, and a curved wall portion 112 which forms curved cam surface 104 on its outer face. An enlarged corner circular section 114 having a hole 114 a is formed adjacent the junction of the curved wall portion 112 and the straight wall portion 108. An enlarged comer circular section 115 is further formed at the junction between the straight wall portion 108 and the generally flat wall portion 110 and includes a hole 115 a. The curved wall portion 112 is integral to the generally flat wall portion 110 and includes a projecting end 116, which forms a continuation of the cam surface 104.

[0019] The holes 114 a of the linkage members 102 a,b receive a pin 119 affixed to inner plate 90 to allow pivotal movement of the linkage members 102 a,b relative to the inner plate 90. Cam rollers 120 or other suitable cam followers are mounted on a respective lever 122 affixed to the end extensions 66 a, 66 b, such that the roller 120 contacts the cam surface 104 of both linkage members 102 a,b located on both sides of the car seat. In the first position shown in FIG. 2, the depressed section 110 a of the generally flat wall 110 of linkage member 102 a is facing upward to act as stop recess for a pin 124 affixed to the cushion frame member 92, whereby the contacting surfaces of the pin 124 and the stop recess serve both as a support of the seat cushion frame 92 in the position shown and a stop to restrain motion upon movement of the seat back frame 60 between opposing positions. When the seat back frame 60 is moved to the opposed facing position than as shown in FIG. 2, the other link member 102 b is rotated upward to expose its depression section 110 b upward to receive a second stop pin 124 of the seat cushion frame 92 to restrain further movement of the linkage member 102 b and support the seat cushion frame 92 as previously described, while the second linkage member 102 a assumes a mirror image of FIG. 2. The heavy-duty cam assembly 100 does not require an additional latch and the like, but provides heavy duty structural support of the seat cushion frame 92 and the seat back frame 60 in absence of a main seat frame in accordance with the teachings of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A passenger seat assembly mounted on a floor of rail car comprising a seat cushion frame extending between spaced opposed sides, means for solely supporting said seat cushion frame on the floor of the passenger rail car, said means for solely supporting said seat cushion frame including a horizontal bottom member having a lower surface contacting the floor of the passenger rail car; and securement means extending through said bottom member for securing said means for solely supporting said seat cushion to the floor of the rail car.
 2. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein said horizontal bottom member is positioned below said seat cushion frame at one of said spaced sides of said seat cushion frame, said means for solely supporting said seat cushion frame further including a vertical plate having a lower horizontal wall being positioned at the other side of said seat cushion frame, second securement means for securing said lower horizontal wall to the floor of the passenger rail car.
 3. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 1 wherein said horizontal bottom member is supported at one of said sides of said seat cushion frame and is integral to a vertically extending block assembly having a plurality of vertical walls.
 4. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 3 further including an angle member secured in overlapping relationship to said horizontal member and to at least a portion one of the plurality of vertical walls.
 5. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 4 further including a vertical member having a lower end affixed to said angle member and having an upper end operatively supporting said seat cushion frame.
 6. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 5 further comprising shaft means for operatively supporting said seat cushion frame, said vertical member operatively supporting said shaft means.
 7. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 5 further including a vertical plate supporting said seat cushion frame at the other side of said seat cushion frame, said vertical plate having a horizontal wall contacting the floor of the passenger car, second securement means for securing said horizontal wall to the floor.
 8. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 6 further including cam assembly means for connecting said shaft means to said seat cushion frame, a seat back being moveably mounted on said shaft means for movement between first and second opposing positions of said seat back frame, said cam assembly means arranged to move said seat cushion frame during said movement of said seat cushion frame.
 9. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 6 wherein said cam assembly means includes a linkage member affixed to said shaft means and pivotally attached to said seat cushion frame, said seat cushion frame having a stop for restraining movement of said linkage member in one of said first and second positions of said seat back frame.
 10. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 8 wherein said cam assembly means includes a pair of linkage members affixed to said shaft means and pivotally attached to said seat cushion frame, said seat back frame having a pair of stops for respectively restraining movement one of said pair linkage members at said first and second positions of said seat back frame.
 11. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 10 wherein said pair of linkage members each includes a depression for respectively contacting one of said stop members.
 12. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 10 wherein said pair of linkage members includes a cam surface, a pair of cam followers being affixed to said shaft means for respectively contacting on of said cam surfaces during rotation of said shaft means.
 13. A passenger seat assembly comprising support means for supporting a seat cushion frame, a pair of shafts being rotatably mounted on said support means, cam assembly means being affixed to said pair of shafts and being pivotally attached to said seat cushion frame, said cam assembly means having a pair of linkage members being fixedly connected to said shaft means and pivot ally attached to said seat cushion frame, and said cam assembly means having a pair of cam followers being respectively affixed to one of said pair of shafts for respectively contacting said pair of linkage members during rotation of said pair of shafts.
 14. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 13 wherein said pair of linkage members include a cam surface for contacting a respective one of said cam followers for relative movement.
 15. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 14 wherein said pair of linkage members each include an outer surface forming said cam surface.
 16. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 14 wherein said pair of linkage members respectively contact said seat cushion frame at first and second positions of rotatable movement of said pair of shafts for restraining movement of one of said linkage members for support of said seat cushion frame.
 17. The passenger seat frame according to claim 13 wherein each of said linkage members and said seat cushion frame have cooperating stop surfaces for restrain movement of said linkage member.
 18. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 16 further including a seat back frame affixed for movement on said pair of shafts, said seat back frame assembly being in opposed facing positions in said first and said second positions of said pair of shafts.
 19. A passenger seat assembly comprising, support means for supporting a seat cushion frame, a pair of shafts being rotatably mounted on said support means, cam assembly means being affixed to said pair of shafts and being pivotally attached to said seat cushion frame, said cam assembly means having a pair of linkage members fixedly connected to said shaft means and pivotally attached to said seat cushion frame, said linkage members being respectively moveable to first and second positions in response to rotation of said pair of shafts, and said seat cushion frame and said pair of linkage members having cooperating stop surfaces for restraining a respective one of said linkage members in said first position and said second position.
 20. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 19 wherein said cooperating stop surfaces includes a projection and a depressed exterior surface.
 21. The passenger seat assembly according to claim 20 further including a seat back frame, said seat back frame being operatively affixed to said pair of shafts, said seat back frame being oriented in oppositely facing positions in said first position and said second position of said linkage members. 